102 GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY. 



sigual exceptions, among which may be instanced the Grouse family. The Ruffed Grouse has 

 a singular umbrella-like tuft on each side of the neck : the Pinnated Grouse has still mure curi- 

 ous wiuglets in the same situation, covering bare distensible skin : the Sharp-tailed Grouse is 

 in sWiievvhat similar but less -proaouoced case; while the C(»ck--t)f-the-plaius has some «xtraor» 

 dinary jugular developments of feathers in connection with his subcutaneous tympanum. Cervix 

 proper almost never has modified feathers, but often a transverse coloration different from that 

 of the rest of the upper parts; when conspicuous, this is called ''cervical collar," to distinguish 

 it from guttural or jugular "collars" or rings of color. Nucha is frequently similarly marked 

 with a " nuchal band; " often special developments there take the form of lengthening of feath- 

 ers, and we have a "nuchal crest." More particularly in birds of much variegated colors, 

 guttur and jugulum are marked lengthivise with stripes and streaks, of which those on the sides 

 are apt to be different from those along the middle line in front. Jugulum occasionally has 

 lengthened feathers, as in many Herons. Higher up, the neck in front may have variously 

 lengthened or otherwise modified feathers. Conspicuous among these are the ruffs or tippets 

 of some birds, especially of the Grebe family {Podicipedidce), and of the male m^ {Pavoncella 

 pugnax). But these, and a few other modifications of feathers of upper neck, are more con- 

 veniently considered with those of the 



Head. — Though smaller than any of the areas already considered, the head has been 

 more minutely mapped out, and much detail is required by the number and importance of its 

 recognizable parts or regions. Without intending to mention all that have been named, I 

 describe all needed to be known for any practical purposes. 



"Top of head" is a collective term for all the upper surface, from base of bill to nape, and 

 laterally about to level of upper border of eyes; this is ])ileum or "cap" (fig. 25, 1, 4, 6) : it 

 is divided into three portions. The forehead, frontal region, or simply " the front " (Lat. frons; 

 fig. 25,1), includes all that slopes upward from bill, — generally to about opposite anterior 

 border of eyes. Middle head or crown (Lat. corona, or vertex; fig. 25, 1), includes top of head 

 proper, or highest part, from rise of forehead to fall of hind-head toward nucha. This slope is 

 hind-head (Lat. occiput; fig. 25, 6). The lateral border of all three constitutes the superciliary 

 line, that is, line over eye (Lat. super, over; cilia, little hairs, especially of the brows). 

 " Crown " means the same thing as pileum. The adjectives of the several words are frontal, 

 coronal or vertical, and occipital (pileum has none in use, coronal being said instead). 



" Side of head" is a general term defining itself; it presents for consideration several re- 

 gions. The orbital or circumorhital region, or simply orhit (Lat. orhis, an orb, here meaning 

 socket of eyeball ; fig. 25, 3), is a small space forming a ring around eye. It includes eye, and 

 especially eyelids (Lat. palpebrcB). The points where these meet, in front and behind, respec- 

 tively, are anterior canthus and posterior canthns (Gr. kovOos, Jcanthos, Lat. canthus, a tire). 

 The orbital region is subdivided into supra-orhital, infra-orbital, ante-orbital, and post-orbital, 

 according as its upper, under, front, or back portion is desired to be specially designated. The 

 situation of the orbit varies much in different groups of birds ; it is generally midway, as said 

 above, but may be higher or lower, jammed on toward bill, or pushed far up and back, as strik- 

 ingly shown in Woodcock. In Owls, the orbital region is exaggerated into a great disc of 

 radiating feathers, conferring a peculiar physiognomy. The aural or auricidar (Lat. auris, or 

 auriculum, ear; fig. 25, 36) region lies about the external opening of the ear, or meatus audi- 

 torius; its position varies in heads of different shapes, but it nearly always lies behind and a 

 little below eye. Wherever located, it may be recognized at a glance, by a peculiar texture 

 of feathers (the aiiriculars) which overlie the meatus. Doubtless to offer least obstacle to 

 sound, these are a parcel of loose-webbed little plumes, which may be collectively raised and 

 turned forward, exposing orifice of ear; they are extremely large in those Owls which have 

 complicated external ear-parts, and in sucli they form a portion of the great facial disc The 



